Idaho CHIP: Children's Health Insurance Program
Updated August 2026
Idaho covers uninsured children through two tiers: standard Medicaid for Children for lower-income households, and a separately named Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for children whose family income is too high for Medicaid but still within CHIP limits. Per the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare's official CHIP page, CHIP "is a low-cost health coverage program for children under age 19 whose family income is too high to qualify for Medicaid," and it may charge "a small monthly premium, depending on income, for each child enrolled."
CHIP
Branded name Idaho uses for its Title XXI children's program
$5,225/mo
CHIP income limit, household of 4 (effective Jan. 2026)
idalink.idaho.gov
Single application portal
Idaho brands its Title XXI program "CHIP" — a distinct, higher-income tier above regular children's Medicaid
Idaho's Department of Health and Welfare lists the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) as its own coverage category, separate from Medicaid for Children, with its own (higher) income table and small monthly premiums that scale with income. Families apply for both through the same idalink.idaho.gov portal, and the system places each child in the correct program automatically.
How Idaho covers children: Medicaid, then CHIP for higher incomes
Idaho's CHIP income table (effective January 2026) is based on household size rather than a single flat percentage of the Federal Poverty Level: $3,427/month for a household of 2, $4,326 for 3, $5,225 for 4, $6,125 for 5, $7,024 for 6, $7,923 for 7, and $8,823 for 8 (plus $900 for each additional household member). Families above the CHIP income limit do not have an Idaho-specific coverage pathway; they should check the federal health insurance marketplace at healthcare.gov for subsidized plan options.
| Household size | CHIP monthly income limit (effective Jan. 2026) |
|---|---|
| 2 | $3,427 |
| 3 | $4,326 |
| 4 | $5,225 |
| 5 | $6,125 |
| 6 | $7,024 |
| Each additional member | + $900 |
2
- CHIP monthly income limit (effective Jan. 2026)
- $3,427
3
- CHIP monthly income limit (effective Jan. 2026)
- $4,326
4
- CHIP monthly income limit (effective Jan. 2026)
- $5,225
5
- CHIP monthly income limit (effective Jan. 2026)
- $6,125
6
- CHIP monthly income limit (effective Jan. 2026)
- $7,024
Each additional member
- CHIP monthly income limit (effective Jan. 2026)
- + $900
Who qualifies for Idaho's Medicaid and CHIP children's coverage
Children qualify for Idaho's Medicaid-for-Children or CHIP coverage if they meet the following requirements, per the Idaho DHW.
- Child must be under age 19
- Household income within the applicable Medicaid or CHIP income guidelines for household size
- Child must be an Idaho resident
- Child must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident
- Child must not have private health insurance
- Former foster care youth who were in Idaho foster care at age 18 are covered up to age 26
What Idaho Medicaid and CHIP cover for children
Idaho Medicaid and CHIP both cover comprehensive health services for children under the federal EPSDT mandate, which requires states to cover all medically necessary services for enrollees under 21 — broader than what adult Medicaid typically covers in Idaho. CHIP enrollees may pay a small monthly premium depending on income, per the Idaho DHW; children current on their well-child checkups and immunizations qualify for a $10 monthly deduction off their CHIP premium (the Children's Wellness Benefit).
- Well-child visits and immunizations (on the ACIP schedule)
- Primary care visits and specialist referrals
- Prescription drugs
- Emergency and urgent care
- Inpatient hospital care
- Mental health and substance use disorder services
- Comprehensive dental care (full EPSDT scope)
- Vision care and eyeglasses
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- Home health and nursing services when medically necessary
How to apply for children's Idaho Medicaid or CHIP
Apply through idalink at idalink.idaho.gov and complete the application for the child or children in your household. One application is used for both Medicaid for Children and CHIP — idalink determines which program a child qualifies for based on household income.
You can also apply by calling DHW at 1-877-456-1233 or visiting a local DHW office. Applications are processed within 45 days under federal rules (42 CFR 435.912).
Eligible children can apply for Idaho Medicaid regardless of their parents' immigration status. Parents do not need to provide their own Social Security numbers or immigration documents when applying only for a child's coverage. This is standard federal Medicaid and CHIP policy.
What CHIP is nationally
CHIP — the Children's Health Insurance Program — is a federal-state partnership that covers children in families whose income is too high for Medicaid but too low to afford private insurance. Congress created CHIP in 1997 under Title XXI of the Social Security Act. Like Medicaid, CHIP is jointly funded by the federal government and each state, and each state administers its own program.
CHIP serves children up to age 19 (some states cover to 21 for children in foster care). Nationally, CHIP covers approximately 7 million children, according to CMS data.
Idaho Medicaid
- idalink online application: idalink.idaho.gov
- Idaho DHW phone line: 1-877-456-1233
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